Nissan Pathfinder Reliability: Best and Worst Years

The Nissan Pathfinder is a midsize SUV that Nissan has sold in the U.S. since the 1980s. It began as a body-on-frame truck-based SUV and changed to a unibody three-row crossover for the 2013 model year. It is offered with front-wheel drive or four-wheel drive and has used V6 engines through the years covered here, plus a 5.6L V8 option from 2008 in the third generation. We put all 14 Nissan Pathfinder model years from 2010 to 2024 side by side, using the same rule for every year.

Why these years stand out

2013: most complaints. The 2013 Nissan Pathfinder scored 1005 complaints per 100,000 sold, 3.3 times the model average. Of its 891 complaints, 481 involve the engine or transmission, and the parts named most often are power train (369), air bags (176) and engine (105). NHTSA lists 11 recalls for this model year and 4 defect investigations.

2014: most complaints. The 2014 Nissan Pathfinder scored 741 complaints per 100,000 sold, 2.4 times the model average. Of its 586 complaints, 288 involve the engine or transmission, and the parts named most often are power train (217), air bags (93) and engine (64). NHTSA lists 12 recalls for this model year and 4 defect investigations.

2012, 2018 and 2020: fewest complaints. The 2012 drew 23 complaints, or 54 per 100,000 sold; The 2018 drew 78 complaints, or 115 per 100,000 sold; The 2020 drew 48 complaints, or 99 per 100,000 sold. These years have been on the road at least three years, which gives owners time to report problems, so a low count means something.

What Nissan Pathfinder owners report most

Transmission complaints lead for the Nissan Pathfinder, at 29% of all complaints for 2010-2024. Engine and transmission reports together make up 47%. One complaint can name more than one system, so the bars can add up to more than the total.

When problems are reported: mileage

1,614 Nissan Pathfinder complaints list the odometer reading at the time of the problem. 63% were reported before 50,000 miles and 11% after 100,000. Most reports come early in ownership, which points to problems that show up while the vehicle is still fairly new.

Nissan Pathfinder compared with other midsize suvs

In 10 of 14 model years the Nissan Pathfinder drew fewer complaints per 100,000 sold than the average midsize suv we track for the same year. For 2024, the Nissan Pathfinder scored 106 against a class average of 140. The class average only uses models with clean, published sales figures.

Nissan Pathfinder generations

• 2005-2012
  Third generation (R51)

  4.0L V6; 5.6L V8 (from 2008) · 5-speed automatic; 6-speed manual

  This body-on-frame version added a third row of seating for the first time, and a 2008 update made a V8 available.

• 2013-2020
  Fourth generation (R52)

  3.5L V6; 2.5L supercharged four hybrid (2014) · CVT

  This generation switched to unibody construction, and a 2017 refresh brought a more powerful direct-injection V6.

• 2022-2024
  Fifth generation (R53)

  3.5L V6 · 9-speed automatic

  The CVT was replaced by a conventional nine-speed automatic with this redesign.

Nissan did not sell a 2021 model year Pathfinder. The hybrid Pathfinder was sold in the U.S. for the 2014 model year only. The 2005-2012 Pathfinder was the last version built with body-on-frame construction.

Nissan Pathfinder fuel economy

The 2026 Nissan Pathfinder is rated at 21 to 23 MPG combined by the EPA, depending on the version. Every year and engine will be on its own MPG page.

Crash test stars

NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gave the Nissan Pathfinder these overall ratings (out of 5) for the model years it tested: 2013: 4, 2014: 5, 2015: 5, 2016: 5, 2017: 5, 2018: 5, 2019: 5, 2020: 5, 2022: 5, 2023: 5, 2024: 5. Ratings can differ between body styles and drive types of the same year.

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